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Igloo Countertop vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison
Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser vs Avalon A8 bottleless. Find out which countertop water cooler dispenser is the best to buy.
Igloo Countertop Water Dispenser
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Overall Verdict
Countertop water cooler dispensers are not as common as the usual free-standing design. Countertop machines can vary a lot more in their performance, but our hands-on testing and comparisons can help you make the right choice.
Compared to the Igloo, the Avalon A8 is by far the superior machine for design, build quality, as well as performance.
A couple of key design differences are that the Avalon A8 has neat side pockets to lift and move the machine. It’s somewhat smaller and lighter than the Igloo and it also has additional ozone cleansing.
The Igloo has ambient temperature water in addition to hot and cold, but the dispensing buttons are noisy and uncomfortable to use. The Avalon uses large paddle levers to dispense hot and cold water.
In our tests, the Avalon A8 has a slight edge over the Igloo for cold water capacity. The Avalon A8 produces around 2.7 L per hour while the Igloo did 2.3 L. That’s the equivalent of 8.5 fl. oz. (300ml) glass of cold water every 7 and 8 minutes respectively.
For hot water, the Avalon’s temperature is 198 ℉, but the Igloo is only 185 ℉. Considering the lower temperature, the Igloo puts out 210 fl. oz. or 6.2 L of hot water per hour. The Avalon, on the other hand, does around 4 L per hour.
The dividing factor, however, is the flow rate. The Avalon A8 has a flow rate of 31 ml/sec, but the Igloo is pretty slow at only 12 ml/sec. In terms of design quality and performance, the Avalon A8 is by far the superior machine.
Pros & Cons
- Heating time
- Simple panel design
- Adjustable feet
- Color design
- Hot water heating time
- Filter attachment design
- Side pocket handles
- Hot water safety mechanism
- Ozone self-cleaning
- Slow flow rate
- Hot water safety
- Water baffle
- Drip tray
- No pocket handles
- Cold water performance
- Fixed nozzle design
- Narrow drip tray
Key Specs
Where to Buy
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Analysis and Test Results
Performance
Hot Water Test
Cold Water Test
Design
In the Box
Build Quality
Dimensions
Panel & Indicators
Water Inlet Controls
Water Dispensers
Drip Tray
Rear Switches
Door and Cabinet
Cord and Plug
Usability
Dispensing Water
Hot Water Safety
Bottle / Filter Changing
Cleaning
Behind the Comparison
Roger Shitaki is a writer, author, and editor. His niches are household appliances, health & wellness, and travel. He’s a freelance contributor to a Tokyo lifestyle website and a leading ophthalmology magazine in Asia.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.
